The fear of missing out has plagued everyone for the last few months but students in particular are finding it hard. The events of this year have been unprecedented and it has been a struggle to adapt our lifestyles around the constant rules being enforced. We are constantly told that our teen years are the best years of our lives. However, Covid has caused many people to feel as if our best years are being robbed from us.
Us students were sent back to university with nothing but uncertainty on how the academic year would unveil. Our university experience has been vastly different to the one expected with teaching being predominantly online. However, we are still expected to pay full tuition fees which is incredibly frustrating when many students are only in for a couple of hours a week.
This is particularly hard for students who do practical based courses and rely on labs and workshops to get to grips with the understanding of their course. Personally, I am studying journalism and have found the change to be particularly difficult as I feel as though my practical skills are being neglected and I’m missing out on all of the facilities my course has to offer. like using the radio booths and tv studios – high tech.
Being stuck in cramped university accommodation spending most of our days in our bedrooms is detrimental for our mental health; it has been described as a mental health crisis for students.
The social aspect of university is huge and it’s an experience many look forward to years before they start. From joining various societies and attending socials for those to making new friends; not being able to do these things is taking a toll on people as many are craving a normal environment again.
All these cancellations can make it seem as if life is on hold — but it’s really still moving forward. Here are some things we should remember to help us deal with the fear that we are missing out during this pandemic:
Everyone is in the same boat; do not feel as though you are the only person who is struggling. With the winter mornings and evenings many people are feeling more anxious about this lockdown than the last.
“If you remember that this is just the beginning of your life and your best days are yet to come then you will begin to feel more positive.”
You will find that if you change your way of thinking then your perspective on life will shift. If you remember that this is just the beginning of your life and your best days are yet to come then you will begin to feel more positive.
Remember you are trying your best in a weird, unprecedented situation. Nobody could have predicted how the events of this year would unfurl so try not to beat yourself up over it. Students who have exams coming up put a lot of pressure on themselves to use this time to be constantly revising but you do not need to be productive constantly; it is perfectly admissible to have an unproductive day.
When possible, try to shift your social media consumption particularly the news. You should stay informed but avoid obsessing over updates and numbers. Make sure that your news sources are reputable and don’t believe everything you read on social media. Instead, you should be present and focus on your mental health and well being.
“Even just opening your window and letting in some fresh air will do you good.”
Regular exercise and fresh air can really help you de-stress and clear your head. Even just opening your window and letting in some fresh air will do you good.
During this lockdown many of us have had the opportunity to spend more time with our families. This is something we should focus on as people lead busy lives and do not usually get the opportunity to truly appreciate their family.
Lastly, you’re surviving a pandemic and that is good enough.
Pia Cooper
Featured image courtesy of @goumbik via Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.